Ask Nami - 100 Questions for Artists

100 Questions for Artists

i've seen people post these every now and then and every time i think "I GOTTA DO THAT" and now i've finally done one. template by stupied, blank version is here!

1.) Introduce yourself! What kind of art do you make?: i'm nami, i make games, comics, and music. check out my art gallery if you haven't seen it. i also do animation sometimes!
2.) How long have you been making art?: buhhh ummm idk the oldest drawings my parents saved were from when i was like 3 or something, i started wanting to seriously get better at drawing when i was 12 and drawing disgaea fan art
3.) How many hours do you spend for each piece?: mmm it really depends on the project but for one illustration in a game for example, i don't like to spend more than an hour on them individually. 30min or less is my ideal so i bend my style toward things i can draw more quickly like that.
4.) Do you prefer taking your time or do you like to quickly move on to the next thing?: FAST FAST FAST GOGOGO
5.) When do you decide a piece is finished?: once everything is colored in i call it good to go, except i have to stare at it for a bit to make sure nothing's too wonky.
6.) What part of the creation process do you enjoy the most?: sketching/thumbnails, i want to make my thoughts real and look at them ASAP
7.) What part of the creation process do you dislike the most?: rendering backgrounds is so miserable, i hate thinking about them, i hate trying to make them look good.
8.) Do you have a designated workstation or do you just work wherever?: gotta be at my pc, i don't even draw on paper unless i have to for whatever reason.
9.) Do you monetize you work or is it purely a hobby?: you can buy my games on steam haha
10.) Where do you share your work? On social media or a personal websites? Do you keep to yourself and close friends?: my site! but i host stuff that is not just drawings wherever it makes sense to host them (like my games live on itchio and my music is on youtube)
11.) What's an aspect of your art you enjoy?: i like when my ocs make me laugh
12.) What are things you would like to improve on?: i need to practice drawing real life buildings and rooms and whatever so i can make up fake ones more easily
13.) Are you self-taught or had formal education?: i took art classes starting in middle school and went to college majoring in 2d animation (dropped out after like 3 years tho)
14.) Do you research about old techniques or stick to newer ones?: what… i don't research these things
15.) What do you value more, experimentation or mastery?: uhh i like to try new stuff i guess, gotta keep it interesting. i haven't mastered shit.
16.) Do you practice drawing from the arm? What other art techniques to you practice?: yeah gotta protect my wrist. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY TECHNIQUES??? my special skill is keyboard mapping shit so i don't have to navigate menus so much
17.) How frequently do you do studies?: lol
18.) Do you understand color theory? How'd you learn or do you want to?: generally, but i can't do cool stuff with it like a lot of painters do, my coloring style skews more "safe"
19.) Favorite color(s)?: cyan, pink, and grays
20.) Are there colors you avoid? Do you think ugly colors exists?: idk, mustard yellow. just like, #ff0 but shaded with black, it's yucky… any color can work in the right context tho……
21.) Can you do perspective?: yeah but i don't enjoy it really
22.) Do you like doing lineart? How do you go about it?: YEAHHHH i like to make nice lines but it's a pain in the ass to refine the sketch too much first so sometimes i will go from really rough thumbs to final lines. sometimes my sketch transforms into the lineart directly, just if it's faster to clean that up.
23.) Do you have multiple unfinished projects? Will you ever get to finishing them?: FUUUCCCKKKK
24.) How do you start a new piece? Do you have a plan or just figure it along the way?: always draw a circle for the head, but it's not even the whole head, it's like, just a general "face goes here" guide to build the rest off of. i like drawing faces or whatever gets the feeling down the fastest, so like if their arms are doing special i'd draw that before the face, idk…
25.) How do you handle art block?: i just do something else until i feel like drawing again (it's very hard)
26.) Do you listen to music or watch something while working?: music (no vocals) if i'm sketching or writing and need to think, podcasts/youtube vids if i'm rendering and don't need to think.
27.) When are you most motivated to create? In the morning or evening? Rainy or sunny?: oh the outside world is not a factor, it's just if i am feeling it in the moment or not. i'm usually motivated by just thinking about the thing (whether that's fully internal or something saying something that gives me an idea)
28.) Are your sketchbooks messy or aesthetically pleasing?: i don't draw in sketchbooks anymore, usually if i'm drawing something it's in a format i will be able to post easily (so clean???)
29.) Do you like showing sketchbooks to others?: no because i don't like drawing on paper, i don't get to arrange ideas the way i'd prefer them to be presented…
30.) Do you have any art friends? IRL or online?: YES??????? all my friends are artists of some type
31.) Do you collaborate frequently with your friends? Is there something you'd like to work on together?: yeah, usually if they have certain skills or their style is a good fit for something i'm working on i will hire them. uhh i want to make an anime opening for syrup 2 but i need to make a song before i can actually storyboard it.
32.) Have you created art to gift to others? How do feel about parting away from your work?: um all my art is a gift to the world????? but yes i like drawing things for others, the last time i did this was a doodle for someone over email since their oc was really cute. i've drawn thousands of things so i don't mind "parting" with them.
33.) Have you drawn for someone else? Like commissions or requests? Did you enjoy it?: i've done a lot of commissions, and professional work for game studios… uhh i mean i enjoy drawing generally but i prefer to just draw for myself now since i have so many things i want to make real. doing other stuff feels like it's taking away from my energy to do what i want.
34.) How's your posture?: BAD, i often sit like L from death note.
35.) Have you ever been injured making art?: strained my wrist a few times but never got carpal tunnel or anything. happens if i am pressing too hard/doing too fine of movements, usually happened with lineart. the way i draw now is looser and i'm not pressing so hard, so i can draw for 12 hours without issue (the ideal)
36.) What's a medium of art you've wanted to try / currently attempting?: in the past it was music and vocaloid. websites are art too right??? i've been in my website era the past couple years.
37.) Do you prefer stylized or realistic art?: guess
38.) Do you like hyper-realistic art?: do not care
39.) Do you like abstract art?: mmmm…….. i like abstraction in general but there has to be some kind of figure tied to it, don't just show me shapes, i need something concrete to attach to.
40.) How do you feel about fine art?: whateverrrrr
41.) How do you feel about outsider art? Do you think you fall in that category?: tbh i don't know what this means, i don't think i'm an outsider artist though. my style is kinda conventionally popular…
42.) Do you follow art trends?: i wouldn't even be able to name an art trend if you asked me
43.) Do you think your art is influenced by what's currently popular?: is disgaea popular??? (no)
44.) Do you compare yourself with others? Does it affect you negatively?: HMMM. it depends on what we're talking about. with games, there's some developers i feel kinda jealous of. with music, i can feel my lack of technical skill so it's a little frustrating and i worry about doing things "incorrectly" all the time. with drawing though, i have always felt that other artists are way more technically skilled, but i'm happy with how my art looks so i can accept my shortcomings and remember that i can do things other artists can't. like my insane output, probably. overall i'm happy with where i'm at! we all have different strengths.
45.) Your controversial art take?: UMINEKO IS BEST EXPERIENCED WITH RYUKISHI'S ORIGINAL CHARACTER SPRITES (well i don't know that that's controversial), i think that "bad" or amateur art gets across specific emotions that you lose when you redraw it to look more aesthetically pleasing or in a more popular/modern style… IT LOSES THE FEELING THE ART WAS CREATED TO COMMUNICATE…. i don't redraw the art from my old games for this reason.
46.) Art related pet peeves?: can i write a nsfw answer????? i'll phrase this in the most sfw way i can… i don't like when people are drawn with completely hairless bodies. just give them like, a little bit of fluff, PLEASE. even just a little! idk, body hair can be tough to render in a way that doesn't stand out too much, but personally i want to make an effort to draw it more. sorry to those who think it's gross, i also had a phase like that but i got over it and now there's no going back.
47.) Who or what are your inspirations?: disgaea and the series' character designer and illustrator, takehito harada. in general i take a lot of inspo from manga and the vocaloid scene but harada's style is the ideal (though it's shifted in recent years, i still think his coloring is top tier)
48.) What's an art piece / artist you wished got more attention?: MAKAI SENKI DISGAEA 4 no idk (wait i can't think of anything else i'm sorry)
49.) Have you touched grass recently? Do you go out frequently or do you spend most of your time indoors?: i went on a walk around the neighborhood with my wife earlier today. we do this maybe once or twice a week on average and i stay in my house at all times otherwise, unless i have to go run an errand or we have plans with the local friends we see maybe 3 times a year
50.) Do you create art daily?: broadly yes????? unless i'm totally burnt out i'm always working on something, i definitely don't draw every day, but if you count writing and music then yeah i'm always up to something
51.) Do you take breaks from creating? How frequently?: my brain forces me to every now and then, but i wish i did not get tired like this.
52.) Do you set deadline for your work?: well i have two weekly webcomics now so i'm sticking to that schedule! with games it's helped in the past to do them for a game jam which has a deadline. with my biggest projects, deadlines are too painful and stop me from wanting to work on the thing, so i can't think about it.
53.) Do you archive your work? Do you keep old pieces?: yep!!! i even have my sketchbooks from elementary/middle school still. i want to scan some stuff from those…
54.) Are you embarrassed of your old work? Or are you indifferent by it?: there's some stuff i wouldn't share today, but overall i like my old works, which is why i keep them around. there's one exception in terms of my games but it's less embarrassment and more personally not wanting to distribute the thing anymore.
55.) Do you seek out for criticism? How do you handle feedback?: i'll get criticized even if i don't ask for it!!!!!! nah most people are really nice when they leave comments, i've gotten so many that if someone says something i disagree with i can easily laugh and forget about it. if someone gives constructive feedback though i definitely take it into consideration going forward. it hurts when they say something i was worried about and i know they're right, it feels like i failed them.
56.) Are you harsh on your own work? Or do you love your work despite all its flaws?: genuinely love what i make, but there's some stuff i feel like i wasn't able to make how it should've been so those works are harder to face. if i do sit down and face it though i can see what's still good about them.
57.) Do you get compliments frequently? How do feel about them?: probably too frequently, i don't read the reviews on google play or BET on steam anymore because after a while they just all say the same thing and i'm not learning any new information or able to absorb it as a real person's genuine feelings. like it's hard to conceptualize so i just have to stop thinking about it and go back to making new things. i don't want to feel nothing when someone says they love something i made, i want to always think "aww, yay!!!" when they say that.
58.) How do feel about the rise of generative AI? Do you use it for getting ideas or references?: sad! and no wtf why would i reference ai, your designs will always be stronger if you're drawing from real life.
59.) How do feel about tracing? What about tracing 3d models to streamline art process?: the guitar timber is holding in the NWT ost album art was traced because i wanted the proportions to look correct. skullgirls and indivisible both used 3d models for things like big band's tuba and kampan's fist—those were pretty essential for keeping the animation on-model and saving the animators time and effort. like, hard work and skill still goes into both of these things, sometimes it makes sense to trace something, and it will be really obvious when an artist can ONLY trace. if you're fully tracing someone else's drawings and calling it your own, you're just hurting your own development.
60.) Drop you art resources!: i like naoki saito's youtube channel a lot.
61.) Do you prefer making fanart or original content?: i don't have much of a drive to do fanart anymore, all my creative energy goes into my ocs who i am obsessed with
62.) Do you think original content are more creative than fanart?: no???? what the hell???????
63.) Do you strive for originality?: i strive to make the thing in my head that i am excited about real. originality isn't a factor…
64.) Do you draw from imagination or heavily rely on references?: imagination because looking things up is a pain, but i do look up refs for incidental things. for the next chapter of timber's community service i had to draw the inside of a durian, which i have never eaten in real life.
65.) Do you think using references is a crutch?: this way of thinking is self-sabotage. take a fucking life drawing class.
66.) Do you like to make mood boards or scroll through Pinterest?: not at all, in my case i think it's a waste of time.
67.) Does your work have a story behind them or do you just make things that you think look neat?: SOOOOOOOOO much story, dude!!!!!!
68.) Do you think art should have a purpose?: it doesn't have to…
69.) Favorite aesthetic?: anime??? idk what this even means honestly
70.) Do you have a muse or a theme you fall back to?: TIMBERRRRRRRR uh, and love, broadly speaking
71.) If you could eat your art, what would it taste like?: gotta say candy
72.) If your work suddenly became sentient, would it adore or hate you?: ok but like WHO. if timber was real and knew i decided everything about his life i think he'd be a little mad i hurt him so much but realize that includes the good things so he has to be grateful for that too and of course he can't risk getting on my bad side because it might end up hurting him more—listen, timber is a very sensible guy, he'd be cautious about the whole thing (tbc i don't want timber to be literally real or acknowledge me)
73.) Based on previous question, can you win in a fist fight against it?: KHFKDF NO TIMBER WOULD PUSH ME DOWN THE STAIRS
74.) Is your art style consistent? Do you prefer making a wide variety of art?: well i do have a pretty defined style, but i like to change it up within certain parameters, so… like, it's consistent per project, unless it's a 5+ year thing where how i draw the characters has shifted a bit… i guess i'm not that consistent???? i feel more on the consistent side though…
75.) Do you revisit old concepts or sketches? Do you touch em up or leave them as is?: yes, if i'm returning to it to finish it doesn't that mean they automatically get touched up…? but yeah with games i have reworked old concepts to fit a jam before.
76.) Do you believe in talent or is it all skill?: i believe… some people are predisposed to just like "get" certain things… everyone starts in different places, and the rate your skills develop depends on whether you're actively pursuing improvement and i guess if the way you're practicing is actually getting you results. TAKE A LIFE DRAWING CLASS YOU'LL GET SO MUCH BETTER AT DRAWING ANATOMY I'M SO SERIOUS
77.) What's your favorite thing to draw / make? Do you prefer making living things or still life?: ghghhh…. i like making VNs because i can tell a full story relatively quickly. but i've been really enjoying making comics lately because i don't have to think about all the stuff that goes into making a whole vn. i like drawing characters that i think are cute, but my definition of cute is a little broad, like it includes timber who is more on the cool side. sorry i keep talking about timber. anyway i love to draw characters, i don't like drawing bgs or random objects as much.
78.) Do you create your art with a specific audience in mind? Who?: ANYTHING FOR THE LORE MANIACS (by which i mean, anyone who is invested in the interconnected stories of all my ocs like i am)
79.) How do you feel about people taking inspiration from work? Do you think art style theft is real?: if someone is trying to draw in my style, i take that as a compliment… imo it only feels like theft if you use AI to make it, like if someone cares to develop their skills enough to copy your art style, they at least took the time to draw something meaningful to them???? they at least sat down and did that????????? i guess i just look at the like "fake harada" artists that are out there (look up mugen souls and you'll see what i mean) and like they just can't match the appeal of the original, so i don't view it as a threat or anything… it does feel disingenuous though, like cashing in on someone else's appeal i guess, and that makes me not want to engage in the work. it feels shitty when there's money involved. if it's fanart though why should i care…
80.) Do you participate in art conventions? Do you sell your work or support everyone else?: i used to, but i don't have the capability or desire to do them nowadays. my wife buys a lot of fan merch at cons though, so i guess i support everyone through her!
81.) Are your art materials expensive? Do you hoard any tools?: small-ish pen tablet and a clip studio license, one time purchase… i think i made it out pretty good compared to the cost of traditional supplies!
82.) Do you organize you supplies and tools systematically?: i don't have physical tools!!!!! i mean i guess i have a pencil pouch and some notebooks i could draw in but it's not organized…
83.) Do you clean up after a project? Or do you just leave everything lying around till you need the space?: ok if we're talking files on my computer i keep that shit organized so i can find things easily later.
84.) Do you have a ritual before you start creating? Do you have a drink or some snacks?: what? no i just go.
85.) How do feel about censorship in art? Where do you draw the line for inappropriate art?: BE FREE DRAW ANYTHING don't post sensitive content where it could hurt someone
86.) Do you censor your own art? Do you feel like you leave out details for it be socially accepted?: no, i draw what i want how i want to draw it… there have been times where i think of a sex joke that feels like too much for the thing i'd be putting it in (this happened with another piece of candy once, this comic ~~but i don't remember where i posted the nsfw alt... i'll edit if i find it...~~ found it!), so to respect what that thing is and the audience who may not be there for something spicier, i'll leave it out or find an alternative way to post the same thing… like i didn't want to put sex scenes in LWT so i drew comics instead. if i want to communicate something, censoring myself would be counterintuitive to that goal, so i don't do it…
87.) Do you feel intimated with starting a new projects?: i feel intimidated trying to FINISH new projects
88.) Are you scared of your art regressing? Do you think it's even possible to get worst at art?: mm………. i guess i'm not. i'm probably always going to be happy with the things i'm drawing, otherwise i wouldn't be drawing them. people's styles/tastes shift over time, i think it's kinda subjective whether that's for better or worse. i still actively take inspiration from new sources so i'm not worried about any decline…
89.) Do you frequently make compromises for your work? Does your art come out the way you envision them?: if i can finish something faster, i'll compromise. sometimes my ideas are too ambitious and i only realize after a while of not being able to start on it, that's when i change course. nothing comes out exactly as it was in my head but that's the fun of making stuff, it becomes a real thing as you go.
90.) How well do you manage your mistakes? Do you stress about them?: dude i've had to correct so many typos and small things like that, fans are always catching them and saving my ass. i try not to worry about it, it's not the end of the world (unless the game doesn't run and then i panic)
91.) Do you make lists of things you'd like to make? Do you actual commit to them?: yeah i have a lot of lists for stray ideas, if i don't get to it, i take it to mean it just wasn't meant to be.
92.) What is your ultimate goal of your work? Like, is to tell a story, connect with others, or just to enjoy the process?: all of the above??? the point of telling a story is so that people can connect to what it's saying. and i wouldn't do it if i didn't enjoy the process. the goal is to express the thing in my head, it's cathartic to me to communicate these things.
93.) What's something you've recently worked on that you're really proud of?: NIGHT WITH TIMBER!!!!!!!!!
94.) Do you have any dream projects? Have you started on them?: syrup 2 would be it i think. i guess all the games i want to start next are also dream projects tho.
95.) Would you prefer unlimited money or unlimited time to make your projects?: i feel like i have more than enough of both money and time, it's my mental energy that i wish was unlimited
96.) Why do you create art?: IF I DON'T TELL YOU ABOUT TIMBER, WHO WILL? I HAVE TO.
97.) Are you happy with what you create?: yeah
98.) Do you think everyone should make art?: please do
99.) What's advice you'd give to newer artist?: STOP MAKING EXCUSES AND MAKE THAT THING YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT MAKING (UNLESS IT'S MORE EXCUSES!!!!)
100.) When did you finish this? How'd you feel?: a couple hours after i started… it's 11:23pm. i needed something to focus on for the night and i got to do all this uninterrupted, so i think tomorrow i'll feel refreshed and have a good day! i hope i'll have the energy to draw a lot!!!